Bowling ball elevating mechanism



Oct. 16, 1962 w. L. WELLS 3,058,745

BOWLING BALL ELEVATING MECHANISM Original Filed March 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 252 WILLIS L. WELLS ATTOIRNEY Oct. 16, 1962 w. L. WELLS 3,

BOWLING BALL ELEVATING MECHANISM Original Filed March 24, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WlLLlS L. WELLS ATTORNY Oct. 16, 1962 w. L. WELLS 3,0

BOWLING BALL ELEVATING MECHANISM Original Filed March 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :5 :ii I @2196 5 2 4 1: 3 194 246 I I 2 I 82 224 J66 l J60 INVENTOR WILLIS L. WELLS ATTORNEY he tates This invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines and more particularly in improvements in machines for automatically spotting and respotting pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley, and interconnected and cooperating mechanisms for controlling the operation of the machine to effect the necessary handling of pins incident to their removal from the pit of a bowling alley and replacement in playing arrangement on the playing bed.

Problems encountered in the design and construction of the bowling pin spotting machines are those of reducing weight, simplifying their design, and providing mechanism which will handle bowling pins efficiently and with a minimum of wear and tear.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 441,799, filed July 7, 1954, and now Patent No. 2,944,818, which is a division of application Serial No. 16,725, filed March 24, 1948, and now Patent No. 2,707,636.

The present invention relates to a machine which is lighter in weight, relatively simple in design, and easy to control. The pins handled are subjected to less wear and tear on removal from the pit of the alley and on being delivered to the necessary pin spotting mechanism. The ball, also, is handled by improved mechanism which tends to substantially reduce or eliminate chipping and unnecessary wear in its removal from the pit and delivery to the player.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved bowling pin spotting machine which is relatively simple in construction and capable of handling bowling balls with a minimum of wear and tear, thereby increasing the life of each ball handled by the several ball engaging parts of the machine.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and form a part of the specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional front elevation taken on line 1-1 of FIGURE 2--illustrating a preferred form of triangularizing pin magazine, and pin and ball elevating mechanisms;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation-taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1-illustrating the pin magazine in conjunction with a pin spotting table, and means for sweeping the pins from an alley bed into a pit from which the pins are conveyed into the pin magazine;

FIGURE 3 is a section plan viewtaken on line 3-3 of FIGURE l--illustrating the ball elevator, and a portion of the pin conveyor of the magazine; and 1 FIGURE 4 is a sectional side elevation of the ball elevating and return mechanism.

The bowling pin setting machine selected for purposes of illustration, consists chiefly of a magazine M, a pin setting table T, an alley sweep S and a pit sweep PS. Within the magazine M, are arranged a pin conveyor CO, a

3,058,745 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 2 triangularizing or rack section R, a ball lift L, a ball elevator E, and a pin storage bin SB.

The present application is directed primarily to the ball lift mechanism so that for other details not fully de: scribed herein, reference is to be had to the above-menmentioned patents.

The magazine M consists of an upright rectangular housing or frame 25 which at its four corners carries a number of suitably mounted studs 26 on each of which are loosely mounted pairs of spaced sprockets 28 on which run two spaced endless chains 30 which form part of the pin conveyor CO. Chains 30 are connected by means of equally spaced bars 32 and are driven by a pair 'of sprockets 34 mounted on a shaft 36 supported by suitable bearings attached to magazine housing 25. Shaft 36 is driven by means of a suitable pulley (not shown) attached thereto through a belt 38 from a pin conveyor drive motor 40. A number of pivotally mounted cradles or flights 42 are equidistantly spaced along chains 30 (FIG. 1), and each flight is provided with a pair of guide shoes 44 employed for positioning the several flights properly when passing through the various sections of the magazine M, as described hereinafter. Flights 42 convey pins from lower chamber F (FIGURES 1 and 2) of magazine M, into which the pins are delivered by pit sweep PS, to the triangularizing or rack section R. While passing through the lower chamber F, flights 42 together with chains 30 and bars 32, form a more or less horizontal moving band conveyor or moving floor onto which the pins are deposited by pit sweep PS. As the chains turn the right lower corner of magazine M, and move vertically upward (FIG. 1), each flight on which a pin is resting carries it upward, the latter resting in a horizontal position thereon.

Since it is necessary that all pins delivered into the triangularizing or rack section R protrude with their heads in a forward direction toward the pin supporting bed of the alley, all pins conveyed by flights 42 must also lie with their heads or handle ends forward. If a pin comes to rest on a flight 42 in a butt end forward direction, such pin must be oriented or have its position changed to a head forward direction before reaching the triangular rack section R. The necessary change in position or orienting of pins can be effected by causing pin conveyor CO to move through a horizontal, substantially U-shaped loop channel U (FIG. 1). While passing through the lower portion of channel U, flights 42 assume a vertical position, such that a pin engaged by a flight is rolled or pushed in a barrel-like fashion substantially horizontally over the bottom portion designated generally 50. Bottom portion is provided with a pair of suitably spaced guide rails 52 employed for the purpose of facilitating the rolling of the pins and assuring their horizontal movement. The bottom portion 50 of the channel is so designed as to provide a narrow bridge plate 54 (FIGURES 1 and 2) which bridges the rear portion of a chute 56. The latter is equipped with a pair of spaced suitably curved pin reversing plates 58 and, on its bottom portion, provided with an opening 60 leading to the ascending section pin conveyor CO. All pins which are lifted from the lower chamber F by flights 42, and are conveyed upwardly thereby a head forward position, are easily and safely rolled or pushed over the narrow bridge plate 54 as illustrated in broken lines by pin in FIGURE 2. If, however, a pin is moved into channel U in a butt-end for ward position, it will, upon reaching bridge plate 54-, because of the position of the center of gravity thereof, tumble over the edge of plate 54 and slide down chute 56, as illustrated in broken lines by pin 200 in FIGURE 2 The butt end of such falling pin will strike pin orienting or reversing plates 58 with the effect of being guided into a head forward position, as illustrated by pm 300' in FIG- URE 2. This properly oriented pin then falls through opening 60 of chute 56 onto one of the ascending flights 42. In case one of the ascending flights already carries a pin, then the just oriented pin is simply pushed aside by the ascending pin and cannot fall onto a flight until an empty flight passes opening 60. After successfully passing the lower portion 50 of the U-shaped channel, pins are guided through the upper portion of the U-shaped channel. As each flight 42 leaves channel U, it assumes a generally horizontal position and supports the pin which it has been pushing through the channel. These pins are then carried upwardly through a vertical channel 62, formed by the side of rack housing 108, and the back and side of magazine housing 25, to the triangularizing or rack section R of the magazine. with a curved portion 65 at its bottom end, extends upwardly along channel 62 and transversely across the top of the machine, as shown in FIGURE 2. Curved portion 65 tends to push any pin on a flight into proper position therein. Plate 63 maintains pins in proper position on flights 42 during the lifting movement and the rolling movement thereof along the top of rack R.

The preferred form of rack section R consists chiefly of two properly spaced, vertically mounted plates 64 (FIG- URES l and 2), which are provided with ten pin locating or supporting stations 1 to which form the same pattern and correspond exactly with the ten pin locating spots on the bowling alley bed. While ten stations are shown, obviously more or less could be provided to meet change of rules in the game. In facilitating the delivery of pins to the pin locating stations, several stations are connected by a common feed channel. Plates 64 are provided with four feed channels, namely, 66, 68, 70 and 72, each of which has an opening 74, 76, 78 and 80 respectively, leading to the top edges 82 of plates 64. The design of the rack section R is such that feed channel 66 connects and serves pin stations 1, 3, 6 and 10; feed channel 68 serves pin stations 2, 5, and 9; channel 70 serves pin stations 4 and 8, and channel 72 serves pin station 7. Each of the ten stations is provided with a pin arresting mechanism which consists of a pair of pin supporting lugs 84, 85 employed for the purpose of supporting the head and bottom portion of the pin in substantially horizontal position. Each pair of lugs 84, 85 consists of a rigidly mounted rear lug 85 and a hinge mounted front lug 84. Each lug, with the exception of the lugs for stations 1, 2, 4 and 7, is attached to a narrow arm 86 for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot. Each pair of arms 86 is mounted on a shaft 88 pivotally supported by plates 64. Since stations 1, 2, 4 and 7 are located at the bottom of feeding channels 66, 68, 70 and 72 respectively, no rear pin supporting lug is necessary, but the bottom of each feeding channel in the rear plate is so formed as to provide a proper support for the bottom portions of the pins coming to rest in said stations. The front lugs 84, which support the neck portions of pins .in stations 1, 2, 4 and 7, are hinge mounted on horizontal pivots in brackets 90 secured to the front side of the front plate 64. All front supporting lugs 84, in addition to being hinge mounted, are also equipped with a suitable tension spring 92, which normally biases them to vertical position, but yields to permit forward tilting of lugs 84 when a set of horizontal pins is extracted from rack R. On each shaft 88 is mounted a lever 94 (FIGURE 1) which by means of a link '96 is connected to a trip or control arm 98, each of which is pivoted on a shaft 102 supported by plates 64. Near the top portion of each of the feed channel openings 74, 76 and 78, is located a bell crank-shaped, spring-mounted check arm 104, each of which is pivoted on a horizontal shaft 106 supported by plates 64. Arms 7 104 are so designedthat the lower portion 107 extends into pin locating stations 8, 9 and 10, respectively, when these stations are empty. As soon as a pin occupies one of these stations and presses downwardly against portion 107, the upper free end of the respective arm 104 is moved into a position such that it closes the upper opening of the respective feed channel and thereby prevents any successive passing pin from entering the same. Each arm 104 is biased to prevent it from projecting into the feed channels when no pin is in its station.

The triangularizing or pin rack section R operates as follows: As pins carried by flights 42 of pin conveyor CO reach the top of channel 62 and adjacent to the top edge of the pin rack housing 108, pin conveyor CO turns and A plate 63, provided moves in a horizontal direction, thereby causing flights 42 to assume a substantially vertical position. All pins which had been lifted by flights 42 are now pushed or rolled along the top edges of spaced plates 64 (FIGURE 1). As the conveyor chains 32 move horizontally, the cradles 42 are held vertically by means of their'respective guide shoes 44 contacting suitable guide rails 110 secured to the top plate of housing 25 (FIGURE 1). When rack R is empty, the first pin rolled along t-op edges 82 of plates 64 will, upon reaching opening 74, due to its own weight, drop therethrough into feed channel 66 and come to rest at station 1, where it is held in the proper horizontal position by the pin supporting lugs 84, 85 of this particular station, described heretofore. On its way to station 1, the falling pin, of course, passes stations 3, 6 and 10, thereby temporarily depressing control arms 98 for the stations 6 and 10, and also check arm 104 at station 10, which momentarily effects a closing of opening 74 of feed channel 66. Upon reaching station 1, however, this pin depresses control arm'98 of station 3, which remains depressed so long as this pin remains in station 1. The depressing of this control arm 98 through link 96 and lever 94 causes lever 86 to swing supporting lugs 84, 85 of station 3 into operative pin supporting position in feed channel 66, so that the next pin dropping through opening 74 into feed channel 66 comes to rest and is positioned properly thereon at station 3. The second pin arrested at station 3 in turn keeps the control arm 98 of station 6 in a depressed position which causes pin supporting lugs 84, 85 of station 6 to swing into and remain in operative pin supporting position in feed channel 66. The third pin dropping into feed channel 66, therefore, comes to rest on these lugs at station 6, which in turn keeps the control arm 98 for station 10 in a depressed position, thereby effecting a raising and locking of the pin supporting lugs 84, 85 at station 10 into the feed channel 66, so that the fourth pin dropping into food channel 66 comes to rest on said lugs of station 10. The fourth pin deposited in station 10, however, by engagement with arm portion 107, also causes the upper portion of check arm 104 to move into the center portion of the opening 74 of feed channel 66, thereby closing it and guiding any following pin, arriving at said opening, over the same and preventing any further pin from entering feed channel 66 (FIGURE 1). Since the opening 74 of channel 66 is thus closed, the following pins are moved by flights 42 along spaced edges 82 farther until they reach opening 76 of feed channel 68 where they drop into stations 2, 5 and 9 respectively in the same manner as the first four pins dropped into stations 1, 3, 6 and 10. The dropping of a pin in station 9 causes check arm 104 guarding opening 76 of channel 68 to swing into channel closing position in opening 76, thus preventing more pins from entering feed channel 68. Any following pins therefore are guided over the openings 74 and 76 to the edge of the opening 78 of the feed channel 70 which accommodates stations 4 and 8. After two pins drop through opening 78 into feed channel 70 in a manner similar to that described heretofore, stations 4 and 8 are filled and opening 78 is closed by means of the check arm 104 held in the center portion of said opening by the pin deposited in station 8. The remaining pin forwarded by the pin conveyor is guided over the closed openings 74, 76 and 78 to the opening 80 of feed channel 72, the bottom of which forms the station 7. After the last pin is delivered to station 7, the loading of the triangularizing rack is completed; triangularized pins held therein are ready to be transferred by a suitable pin spotter to the alley. Since the pin deposited in station 7 is the last of the ten pins elevated by pin conveyor during any cycle, the opening 80 does not need a check arm as employed at the other openings 74, 76 and 78, and none is provided.

Stations 1 to 10 in the pin rack R are arranged in the same manner and conform with the same pattern in which the pins are placed on the alley bed, i.e. station 1 corresponds with pin 1 on the alley, stations 2 and 3 correspond with pins 2 and 3, etc. After passing over the top of the pin rack section R, pin conveyor C makes a turn and moves vertically in a downward direction as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1. To save space and ready flights 42 to a pin receiving position when arriving at the bottom of housing 25, the flights, upon leaving the top portion of said housing, are moved or swung about their pivots from a vertical hanging position to a position where, in conjunction with bars 32 on chains 30, they form an almost flat conveyor band. The position of the flights or cradles 42 is changed by means of two studs 112 secured to the rear wall of housing and protruding into the path of the cradles at the upper left turning corner of the conveyor chains 30. After flights 42 have been turned, guide shoes 44 of each flight engages with a vertical guide bar 114 attached to the inner wall of housing 25.

The pin setter table T (FIGURE 2) employed for the purpose of transferring the pins from the triangularizing pin rack R to the alley, consists of a suitable housing 128 in which are rigidly secured ten cylinders 122 arranged in the same manner and triangular pattern as the stations 1 to 10 in the pin rack R which correspond with the spots on the alley on which the bowling pins are placed. Since all cylinders 132 are identical in construction and operation, it is considered that a description of one will suffice for all. Each cylinder 132 carries a plurality of spring mounted gripper arms 124 which at one end suitably engage a cone shaped gripper actuating member 126 which is attached to one end of a rod 128 suitably supported in a sleeve or hub 130 mounted on a cylinder cover plate 132 which may form an integral part of cylinder 122. The other end of rod 128 is fastened to a plate 134 which at several suitable points engages with a number of threaded spindles 136, the ends of which are supported in bearings of suitable ribs or plates which may be an integral part of table housing 120. Each spindle 136 has secured to one end a sprocket 138, each of which by means of a chain 140, is connected to a sprocket 142, all of which are mounted on a shaft 144 protruding from a suitable reversible gear reduction motor 148 suitably secured within the table housing 120. It may be readily understood that the turning of spindles 136 through motor 148 causes plate 134 to move towards or away from the cylinder cover plates 132, which in turn moves each cone shaped member 126 on rod 128 in each cylinder towards or away from the ends of its respective gripper arms 124 thus effecting a gripping or releasing action of said gripper arms 124 in each cylinder 122.

Table T is provided with a pair of studs 150 (FIG- URE 2) swingably supported in a pair of arms 152 pivotally mounted on a horizontal transverse shaft 154 supported at each end in suitable bearings of two frame members 156, each of which is mounted on the upper portion of the inner wall of the bowling alley kickbacks. Arms 152 also carry a transverse shaft 158 to which, at each end adjacent the outside of each arm, is mounted a gear 160. Gears 160 engage with stationary gear segments 162, each of Which is rigidly secured to the inner side of its respective frame member 156. Shaft 156 is rotated either clock or counter clockwise by one, or preferably two, reversible gear reduction motors 164, mounted on a sleeve bracket 166 loosely supported by transverse shaft 154. It may be readily seen that a clockwise rotation of shaft 158 causes gears 160 to move downwardly on the stationary gear segment 162, thus effecting a downward movement of arms 152 and consequently of pinsetter table T towards the alley bed, while a counter clockwise rotation of shaft 158 effects a raising of table T away from the alley bed.

Since the 'triangularized pins in pin rack section R are arranged in a horizontal position, but have to be placed on the alley in a vertical or upright position, table T, in effecting the necessary transfer, is turned by means of a pair of guide rollers 170, one of each of which is pivotally mounted on the exterior walls of table housing 128. Each roller 170 runs in a cam track 172 of a vertical cam plate 174 mounted on the inner side of the frame members 156. After a set of ten pins has been transferred by table T from rack section R to the alley bed, table T rises from its lowermost position I indicated in dotted lines (FIGURE 2) to a dwell position II above the alley and remains in this dwell position until the player has thrown a ball.

After a ball is thrown by the player, it rolls from an inclined platform in the pit P onto a ball lift L consisting of a rack 182 pivotally attached to a pair of lugs 184 mounted on a suitable frame within magazine M. The rack 182, which in the illustrated embodiment is made of tubular members, is so constructed as to provide an inclined transverse runway which leads into a delivery cradle consisting of tubular member 186 secured substantially at right angles to tubular rack 182, therefore, any ball rolling onto any portion of tubular rack 182 will thus gravitate to the junction of member 186 and rack 182. Adjacent one end of member 186 is attached one end of a tension spring 188. The other end of spring 188 is secured to a Stud 19% (FIGURE 4) held by a suitable frame member of magazine M. Ball lift L is held at the bottom of pit P by the lower edge of a vertical backstop or pit cushion 192 secured to a pair of supporting brackets 194 (FIGURE 4). At the upper corner of each bracket 194 is pivoted a roller 196 running in a vertical cam track or guide channel 198 suitably secured to frame plates within the magazine housing 25. The lower corner of each bracket 194 is attached to a stud 202 which is an integral part of an endless chain 204, and which also carries a roller engaging in a vertical cam track 286. Both claims 204 are led over a pair of idler sprockets 208 and are driven or reciprocated by a pair of sprockets 210 mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 212 carrying a sprocket 214 (FIGURE 1) which is oscillated through a chain 216 running on a sprocket 218 mounted on a shaft projecting from a reversible reduction gear motor 220 suitably mounted on the outside wall of ball elevator housing 222. The machine is timed in such a manner that, as soon as a ball comes to rest in the rack 182, motor 220 actuates the driving sprockets 210 to move the endless chains 204 in counter-clockwise direction, thereby effecting a raising of the cushion 192 in the manner described above. The raising of cushion 192 in turn effects a release of ball lift L, which, due to the action of tension spring 188, swings it to the position indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 4. Thus, since cushion 192 has continued its upward travel, the rocking movement of ball lift L causes a ball to roll onto member 186 and into or onto the ball elevator E, which elevates the ball in the elevator housing 222, and conveys it to a delivery chamber 223 formed in the top portion of housing 222. Chamber 223, of course, is closed so long as cushion 192 is in its uppermost position, indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 4, but as soon as the reversible motor 220 turns sprockets in a clockwise direction, cushion 192 moves down again, permitting the ball to roll by gravity from exit chamber 223 onto a suitable transverse ball return runway 22.6 which delivers a ball onto a conventional return runway.

The ball elevator E consists of a pair of endless chains 228, each of which carries a plurality of suitably mounted, equally spaced ball supporting lugs 229 which .are so arranged and positioned that each pair of opposing lugs 229 on the opposing chains form a cradle for a ball to be lifted. Each pair of opposing lugs 229 projects through a suitable vertical slot in spaced side walls of elevator housing 222, thus confining the ball during elevation in the slot formed by two opposing lugs 229. As shown, the ball engaging pontion of each lug is curved in order to conform to the curvature of a ball, and prevents damage thereto.

The elevator chains 228 are driven by means of a sprocket 230 on shaft 232 of motor 234. Sprocket 239 through chain 235 (FIGURE 4) drives a suitable sprocket mounted in shaft 238 supported in suitable bearing brackets attached to the outer wall of housing 222. Also secured to shaft 238 is a sprocket 240 (FIG- URE 1) which drives one of the endless elevator chains 228. The other elevator chain is driven by shaft 238 by means of a sprocket 242 mounted on a shaft 244 through a horizontal shaft 246 and suitable bevel gearing (not shown). Both elevator shafts 228 run over a pair of idler sprockets 248 pivoted to shafts 250 supported in suitable bearing brackets attached to the outer wall of housing 222.

In case some pins remain standing after the first ball is thrown by the player, the table T descends, picks up said standing pins and returns to its dwell position II above the alley (FIGURE 2) after which a suitable alley sweep S, which functions also as a guard against carelessly or inadvertently rolled balls, pushes the fallen pins into pit P. In order to assure that all pins falling or pushed into pit P reach the lower chamber F of pin magazine M, pit P is provided with a suitable device for moving pins rearwardly in the pit. in the form illustrated, this is a pit sweep PS which pushes all pins from the pit onto the moving floor formed by flights 42 and bars 32 of the pin conveyor CO which runs in a substantially horizontal plane across the bottom of chamber F. Flights 42, while passing through the bottom portion of chamber F, move progressively into substantially horizontal portions and are held in that arrangement by means of their guide shoes 44, which engage a guide rail 252 attached to the bottom portion of housing 25. A pin 253, projecting from the rear wall of housing 25 into the path of flights 42 near the turning point of the conveyor chains 30 (FIG- URE 1), assures a proper guidance of shoes 44 onto guide rails 252.

Pit sweep PS (FIGURE 2) consists of a transverse sweep board 254 attached to a horizontal gear rack 256 which engages with and is reciprocated by a gear 258 mounted on shaft 259 protruding from a reversible gear reduction motor 260 conveniently mounted beneath the alley bed. In order to provide greater stability to board 254, it may be attached to and reciprocated by two or more gear racks (not shown) which would necessitate two or more gears (not shown) mounted on common shaft 259 leading to said reversible gear reduction motor.

The alley sweep S employed (FIGURE 2) consists of a sweep board 262 extending across the alley and at its ends secured to arms 26'4. Arms 264 are pivotally attached to spaced endless chains 266 actuated by spaced oscillating sprockets 268 moutned on shafts 269 of reversible gear reduction motors 270. Each motor is suitably mounted to the respective frame member 156. Each chain 266 runs in a suitable channel in frame member 156. Each arm 264 is provided with a suitable double acting shock absorber rod 272 linking arm 264 with chain 266. This mechanism provides means which soften any sharp impact which sweep board 262 may receive when fallen pins are swept into the pit. This mechanism also absorbs the shock caused by carelessly or inadvertently thrown balls striking against the front face of sweep board 262. It is to be understood, of course, that the two motors 270, activating the sweep S, are fully synchronized and act as one unit.

An important feature of this invention is the pin changing mechanism which includes a storage bin SB (FIGURE 1). 'In the embodiment shown, bin SB is designed to hold twenty pins or two full sets. If desired, however, fewer pins can be-stored therein. The pin changing mech anism is so constructed and operated that bowling pins in play can be transferred from the alley and rack R to storage bin SB and exchanged for stored pins in bin SB. The pin changing and storage mechanism is employed for changing and/or replacing one or more sets of pins in use or in play for one or more sets of pins in storage in bin SB. For example, if there are two sets of pins in storage bin SB, and two sets of pins are in play, it is possible to change one set progressively and in this way extend the life of each set of pins. In this manner, a saving results to the bowling alley proprietor because of the longer use which he obtains from his bowling pins.

It is also quite common in bowling alley establishments to use open play pins whenever possible instead of new or relatively new league pins which are required in league or tournament play. The term open play as applied to bowling pins, includes pins which although worn or in use for some time and not acceptable for league play, can still be used and are not objected to by many bowlers. It will be seen, however, that although open play pins can be used at certain times, it may be necessary or desirable in order to satisfy customers, to change the pins. The mechanism described hereinafter accomplishes this purpose in a rapid and efiicient manner.

The storagebin designated generally SB, consists of a suitably shaped box or shell 380 mounted within housing 25 adjacent the pin reversing and orienting channel U. Within the box 380, are suitably arranged a number of spaced generally horizontally positioned shelves 382 having a slight incline which support bowling pins delivered into box 380, and along which pins can roll by gravity and pressure of succeeding pins to proper storage positions, such as shown in FIGURE 1. The top portion of box 380, adjacent channel U, is provided with a hinge mounted entrance or guard door 384, which is normally maintained in bin entrance closing position by spring 385. Door 384 is moved to bin entrance opening position by means of a solenoid 388 suitably mounted on the top of said box 380. The armature of solenoid 388 is pivotally connected to one end of link 386. The other end of link 386 is connected to door 384. When door 384 is in bin opening position, bowling pins being pushed through channel U by flights 42 are delivered into bin SB. These pins gravitate downwardly between plates 389, 391, and 393 and roll from shelf to shelf through passageways formed by the ends of shelves 382 until all pins delivered into bin SB take positions as shown in FIGURE 1. While shelves 382, when provided with a slight incline (FIG- URE 1) perform satisfactorily, their inclination can be varied as desired in order to control movement of pins therealong.

In order to provide for the delivery of stored pins from bin SB, the bottom portion of box 380 is provided with a hinge mounted exit or trap door 390 which, when it is open, allows pins to be discharged from the storage bin. The latter, through link 392, is connected to the armature of a solenoid 394 suitably attached to the lower side of box 380. Door 390 is provided with suitable spring 391 employed for the purpose of keeping it closed when not actuated :by its solenoid 394. Adjacent the entrance and exit of box 380 are mounted suitable pin counters 396 and 398 respectively.

Counters 396 and 398 can be similar in design and construction to those disclosed and'described in Rundell Patent No. 2,388,707, issued November 13, 1 945.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims because the particular embodiments, selected to illustrate the invention, is but one of several possible concrete forms of the same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the 7 precise details of the structure shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, the combination of a ball elevating conveyor for lifting a ball from a first position above the bottom of the pit to a second position, said conveyor including a pair of driven endless chains spaced from each other a distance substantially the same at the diameter of the ball, and ball supporting members carried by said chains, a pivotally mounted ball lift member disposed in the pit adjacent said conveyor and movable between a ball receiving position and a ball delivering position, and biasing means for moving said ball lift member to deliver a ball from the pit to said ball elevator conveyor at said first position.

2. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof, the combination of a ball elevating conveyor for lifting a ball from a position above the bottom of the pit to a higher position; a ball lift comprising a first pair of spaced parellel members, a second pair of spaced parallel members fixed to and extending transversely of said first pair; means mounting said ball lift for movement above a horizontal axis which extends through said second pair of members, between a first position and a second position, said first pair of members being operable when in said first position to receive a ball in said pit and deliver the ball to the junction of said pairs of members, and means for moving said ball lift between said first and second positions, said second pair of members being operable to deliver a ball from said junction to said ball elevating conveyor as a result of movement of said ball lift from said first position to said second position.

3. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof and an elevated ball return runway, means for raising a bowling ball from the bottom of the pit to the ball return runway, said means comprising in combination a ball elevating conveyor for elevating a ball from a first position above the bottom of the pit to a second higher position for delivery to the runway, said conveyor including a pair of driven endless chains spaced from each other a distance substantially the same as the diameter of the ball, and ball supporting means carried by said chains; a ball lift for delivering balls from the bottom of the pit to said first position, said ball lift comprising a first pair of spaced, generally parallel members extending substantially transversely across the width of the pit, a second pair of spaced, generally parallel members fixed to and extending transversely of said first pair; means mounting said lift for movement, about a horizontal axis which extends through said second pair of members, between a ball receiving position and a ball delivering position, said first pair of members being operable when in said ball receiving position to receive a ball in the pit and deliver the ball to the junction of said pairs of members; means biasing said ball lift for movement from said ball receiving position to said ball delivering position, and releasable means engageable with said ball lift for holding said ball lift in said ball receiving position, operation of said releasable means being effective to allow said biasing means to pivot said ball lift to said ball delivering position, whereby said second pair of members delivers the ball from said junction to said ball elevating conveyor.

4. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof and an elevated ball return runway, the combination of a ball lift movable between a ball receiving position and a ball delivering position, said ball lift comprising a first pair of parallel elongated members extending transversely across the pit, said first pair being operative when said ball lift member is in said ball receiving position to receive a ball in the pit, a second pair of parallel elongated members fixed to and extending transversely of said first pair, said second pair being operative when said ball lift member moves from said ball receiving position to said ball delivering position to deliver a ball for return via the runway; a backstop disposed in the pit and movable between raised and lowered positions; driving means for moving said backstop; and biasing means connected to said ball lift and operative to bias, said ball lift toward said ball delivering position, said backstop being arranged to engage said ball lift for controlling movement of said ball lift in response to movement of said backstop.

5. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof and an elevated ball return runway, the combination of a chute mounted adjacent the runway for delivering the ball to the runway; a ball elevating conveyor for rising a ball from a lower position to said chute; a movable ball lift for removing a ball from the bottom of the pit and delivering the ball to said ball elevating conveyor; means biasing said ball lift for movement in one direction; a backstop disposed in said pit and movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said backstop being engageable with said ball lift for controlling movement of said ball lift, said backstop also being operable when in said raised position for preventing delivery of a ball from said chute to the runway; and driving means for moving said backstop between said positions.

6. In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of: a ball lift mounted for movement between a ball receiving position at the bottom of the pit and a ball delivering position spaced above the bottom of the pit; means biasing said ball lift from said ball receiving position to said ball delivering position; backstop means mounted for vertical movement between a lowerel position and a raised position, said backstop means including a part which is disposed in the path of travel of said ball lift and which is engaged with said ball lift both for holding said ball lift in said ball receiving position when said backstop means is in said lowered position and for controlling movement of said ball lift from said ball receiving position to said ball delivering position upon movement of said backstop means from said lowered position to said raised position; and means for moving said backstop means between said lowered and raised positions.

7. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 6 and including a pin elevating conveyor at the rear of said backstop means, and means operative after removal of a ball from said pit for directing any pins in said pit beneath said backstop means and onto said pin elevating conveyor when said backstop means is in said raised position.

8. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said part is also engaged with said ball lift for moving said ball lift from said ball delivering position to said ball receiving position upon movement of said backstop means from said raised position into said lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,650 Hedenskoog July 11, 1916 2,609,200 Rundell Sept. 2, 1952 2,625,397 Frye Jan. 13, 1953 2,676,016 Whipple et al. Apr. 20, 1954 2,740,631 Montooth et al. Apr. 3, 1956 

